Awards recognising the efforts of town traders will be launched next week.

The Bridport Business Awards have established themselves as a significant annual event amongst local businesses whilst also providing an opportunity to measure the success of the town’s traders

One of the key awards to be part of the launch is the Clive Hayward Award for Best New Business, which helps monitor the number of new business ‘start ups’ in the town, an essential measure of progress.

Last year's winner was former REME Sergeant Rich Harvey, who turned being invalided out of the Army into an opportunity and opened up the Hurt Locker Gym on the Dreadnought Estate, putting his Army military training to practical use.

The previous year the winner was Peter Bechervaise, who started his business Gorilla Packaging on the St Michael’s Estate but soon outgrew the unit and has now moved to bigger premises at Gore Cross.

Martin Ridley, estate manager at St Michael’s Estate which sponsors the Clive Hayward Award, said: “Both these lads are outstanding examples of the sort of commitment and indeed bravery that is required to start up a business in this day and age. We were so pleased to be able to provide some real recognition for their efforts.

“We shall be looking for the same sort of entrepreneurial spirit from the applicants to next year’s awards.”

Mr Hayward was the estate manager and part owner of St Michael’s for more than 30 years until he passed away in 2019. He played a key role in developing the estate’s reputation for supporting start up new businesses which continues today.

The Bridport Business awards Launch Event will be held at the Salt House, West Bay, DT6 4HB on October 12 at 12.45pm. Anyone running a business who would like to find out more about the awards is welcome to attend.

For more information call 01308 423747.